Mary Jane Peterson
January 15, 1935 — March 6, 2023
Born January 15, 1935 in Missouri Valley, Iowa to Marvin and Cecile (Hutchison) Johnson. Was the 3rd oldest of 5 children and grew up on a family farm in Persia, Iowa. She graduated from Persia High School in 1953. After high school she stayed with Aunt Cora and worked for City Hall in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
She married Keith Peterson on September 23, 1956, who she first met at St. Paul Lutheran Church. After a year of marriage they moved south of Shelby and in 1960 settled on their farm west of Shelby. Where they raised their three kids; Marlene, Barb and Gail.
She worked at REM Leadway for 25 years along with helping on the farm. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the legion auxiliary and also liked to garden, sew, make quilts, attend and volunteer with many church and community functions. She was a major force for lining up volunteers for functions as nobody could tell her “No.”
On Monday, March 6, 2023, Mary Jane passed away surrounded by her loving family, having attained the age of 88 years, 1 month and 19 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Cecile Johnson; brother Duane Johnson; sister Mildred Miller; sister Bernice and brother-in-law Ralph Baldauf.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband Keith Peterson of Shelby, Iowa; children Marlene (Frank) Nelsen of Avoca, Iowa; Barb (Richard) Jablonski of Elkhorn, Nebraska; Gail (Robin) Peterson of Shelby, Iowa; grandchildren: Linsey (Evan) McCarthy of Avoca, Iowa; Josh (Janese) Nelsen of Daphne, Alabama; Kaylan (Dylan) Evans of Omaha, Nebraska; Jennifer Jablonski of Omaha, Nebraska; Heidi (Brandt) Langer of Harlan, Iowa; Haley (Justin) Wooster of Harlan, Iowa; Taylor Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska; Syndey Peterson of Shelby, Iowa and fiancé Shane Schwaninger of Clataonia, Nebraska; great-grandchildren: Flynn, Kellan and Mara McCarthy of Avoca, Iowa; Sawyer Evans of Omaha, Nebraska; Easton and Maci Langer of Harlan, Iowa; Charles Wooster of Harlan, Iowa; Brady Nelsen of Daphne, Alabama; sister Eileen (Frank) Killpack of Neola, Iowa; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
She married Keith Peterson on September 23, 1956, who she first met at St. Paul Lutheran Church. After a year of marriage they moved south of Shelby and in 1960 settled on their farm west of Shelby. Where they raised their three kids; Marlene, Barb and Gail.
She worked at REM Leadway for 25 years along with helping on the farm. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the legion auxiliary and also liked to garden, sew, make quilts, attend and volunteer with many church and community functions. She was a major force for lining up volunteers for functions as nobody could tell her “No.”
On Monday, March 6, 2023, Mary Jane passed away surrounded by her loving family, having attained the age of 88 years, 1 month and 19 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Cecile Johnson; brother Duane Johnson; sister Mildred Miller; sister Bernice and brother-in-law Ralph Baldauf.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband Keith Peterson of Shelby, Iowa; children Marlene (Frank) Nelsen of Avoca, Iowa; Barb (Richard) Jablonski of Elkhorn, Nebraska; Gail (Robin) Peterson of Shelby, Iowa; grandchildren: Linsey (Evan) McCarthy of Avoca, Iowa; Josh (Janese) Nelsen of Daphne, Alabama; Kaylan (Dylan) Evans of Omaha, Nebraska; Jennifer Jablonski of Omaha, Nebraska; Heidi (Brandt) Langer of Harlan, Iowa; Haley (Justin) Wooster of Harlan, Iowa; Taylor Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska; Syndey Peterson of Shelby, Iowa and fiancé Shane Schwaninger of Clataonia, Nebraska; great-grandchildren: Flynn, Kellan and Mara McCarthy of Avoca, Iowa; Sawyer Evans of Omaha, Nebraska; Easton and Maci Langer of Harlan, Iowa; Charles Wooster of Harlan, Iowa; Brady Nelsen of Daphne, Alabama; sister Eileen (Frank) Killpack of Neola, Iowa; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
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